Canada’s economy approached pre-pandemic levels with the addition of 94,000 new jobs in July, a survey by Statistics Canada has found.
According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, which examined Canada’s labour market conditions between July 11 to 17, immigrant participation in the country’s labour market grew towards 2019 levels.
94,000 new jobs were added in July, which improved employment in Canada by 1.3 per cent from February 2020 levels.
The rises were concentrated on full-time employment for immigrants, especially in Canada’s private sectors.
Unemployment levels among immigrants who moved to Canada fell to 7.5 per cent – the same as March.
Employment among Canadian immigrants increased in the provinces of Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island.
Immigrants who were taken into account for the survey were recent arrivals in Canada, travelling to the country within the last five years.
In July, the employment rate for Canadian immigrants reached 69.1 per cent – one percentage point greater than in June.
Following the 94,000 new job additions, the number of immigrants participating in the Canadian workforce contributes to almost 4 per cent of the total labour force, taking the immigrant participation in the Canadian workforce to pre-pandemic levels.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the number of recent immigrants participating in the Canadian workforce rose from 612,000 in 2016 to 751,000 in 2019.
However, the number dropped following the pandemic, as lockdowns, border closures, and travel restrictions were implemented to ensure public health safety.
During the week when Statistics Canada conducted the survey, public health restrictions in Canada were significantly eased due to low COVID-19 infection cases and high vaccination rates among Canadian residents.
Canada considers immigration as a leading solution to address its demographic challenges – an aging population and a low birthrate.
Because of the aging population, the size of the Canadian workforce is shrinking, as more and more Canadians approach retirement age.
Coupled with a low birthrate, Canada’s demographic challenges are getting increasingly difficult, leading to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holding periodic Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invitation rounds to invite skilled migrants to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Canada welcomed 35,700 new permanent residents to the country in June 2021 – more than any other month during the coronavirus pandemic. The numbers for July are yet to be announced.
